The village of St Dogmaels clusters round its ancient abbey ruins and the more recent church of St Thomas (see above), alongside the ruins. The abbey stands on the site of a pre-Norman church founded by St Dogmael. The abbey, dating from 1115, was originally home to a prior and twelve monks of the Order of Tiron (from France), a Benedictine order. It survived, grew and developed for some 400 years, until Henry VIII's brutal dissolution of the monasteries when (like so many abbeys in England, Wales and Ireland) it was abandoned. It was plundered for its stone, for a mansion built in the grounds (now also disappeared), so that only ruins now survive.
The abbey ruins (left) and, above, a sketch of how it may have looked.
i like this kind of place, so rich in history and .. ghosts! :o)
ReplyDeleteThat's the trouble with Wisconsin - we have no abbey ruins.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photo. I love the repetition as seen through the arch.
Even though it's in ruins, there grounds look well maintained. Who maintains it?
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful framing on top! Well done, Jenny, great shot.
ReplyDeletenicely composed
ReplyDeleteI love that top pic!
ReplyDeleteLove the picture through the arch! And the old mill is the next post is charming!
ReplyDeleteI have finally had a minute to sit and look at your blog...this place is spectacular! Reminds me how short the history of the US is. Enjoyed the weekend with our grandson...he's huge and has become so personable...2 teeth on the bottom and pure white hair! (o: I'll post a picture soon...hope to see a picture of E soon too~
ReplyDeleteBeautifully framed, jennyfreckles!
ReplyDelete